Federal law allows all consumers to obtain one free copy of their credit report from each of the three national credit reporting agencies once every 12 months. If you have already obtained your reports in the last 12 months, you can view your free Equifax and Experian reports by creating accounts on their websites. TransUnion does not offer this service.

Ordering Your Free Reports

If you have not ordered your free reports in the last 12 months, you can do it online by visiting the government website: Annual Credit Report.

The website will give you instructions for getting your report from each of the credit reporting agencies. Each agency will ask for your full name, date of birth, and social security number and require you to answer a few security questions in order to further verify your identity and obtain your report instantly. Security questions are multiple-choice and may include items such as:

• In 2001 you took out a mortgage from which lender?
• Which of the below addresses did you live at?
• From what company did you take a personal loan in 1993?
• Which of the following companies is a previous employer?

If you answer questions correctly you will be able to view, save, and/or print your credit report immediately. For those who are unable to answer all of the questions correctly, do not worry, you can still obtain your free credit report by following the instructions to receive a printed copy by mail.

Getting Your Credit Report from Equifax and Experian

Equifax and Experian offer the option of obtaining a free credit report directly from them when you set up an account on their websites. These reports will provide you with most, if not all, of the information contained in your credit report, but will not allow you to see your credit score or view your report in the same format that others viewing it will see. If you are able to obtain the reports from the government website, this is the best option. However, if you are not, the Equifax and Experian accounts will give you a very good idea of what others will see when checking your report. To register for your free account just click the link for Equifax or Experian.

If you are experiencing problems with your credit report, such as inaccurate information from a creditor or debt collector or the inability to obtain a copy of your report, feel free to contact our office at 1-800-219-3577, for a free, no obligation consultation.